Eurasia Border Review;Vol. 8, No. 1

FONT SIZE:  S M L

The Danish-German Border Region: Caught between Systemic Differences and Re-bordering

Klatt, Martin

Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/83517
JaLCDOI : 10.14943/ebr.8.1.15

Abstract

The Danish-German border region of Schleswig has evolved from a troubled past with military conflicts to an open border within the EU. Politicians and researchers have developed a narrative of successful accommodation of national and cultural diversity through constructive policies of minority inclusion. This article analyses the struggles of local stakeholders to exploit this narrative to achieve sustainable cooperation and economic growth against the background of contemporary EU cohesion policies in border regions. It demonstrates the dilemma of systemic differences inhibiting sustainable integration of cross-border public services. In addition, it examines the limitations of cross-cultural communication and the vulnerability of cross-border social practices faced by rebordering measures initiated by central governments and national security discourses.

FULL TEXT:PDF